GLOK, the electronic persona of Ride's Andy Bell, has teamed up with Timothy Clerkin to release their new collaborative album, titled 'Alliance'. Set to drop on November 8th via Bytes, the project marks a significant creative collaboration between the two English musicians. The duo initially crossed paths at a mutual friend's gathering, and later became acquainted while working on Bell's 'Dissident Remixed' album in 2019. A chance meeting at Andrew Weatherall's funeral solidified their connection, leading to a productive exchange of ideas primarily conducted over email during the pandemic.
The album, which showcases a true meeting of minds, was conceived as an equal partnership, with both artists contributing roughly 50% to its creation. Bell noted, "We didn't discuss much in the way of direction. I was having quite a creative spell at the time, to me it felt like making music was keeping me sane but... it made me more insane, just in a different way." Clerkin echoed this sentiment, revealing that the division of labor includes shared responsibilities for both synths and guitars, contrary to assumptions regarding their roles.
The first single from 'Alliance,' titled 'Empyrean', has already been released and features a trance-inducing video. With a sound described as woozy and psychedelic, fans can expect a musical journey from the collaborative effort and can catch the track on streaming platforms along with the accompanying video.
Upcoming tracks on the album include "AmigA", "Nothing Ever feat. Du Blonde", "Scattered", and more, each promising diverse soundscapes and exploratory textures that reflect the dynamic interplay between the two artists.